Cambusmore Estate Fishery

The Cambusmore beats of the River Teith present some of the best fly water the Forth district has to offer. Across the 3 beats, there are certain pools that suit high water, and some pools that fish better in lower water. The surroundings are never constant except for their beauty and it can feel like you are fishing the Spey, only 20 minutes from Stirling. It is important to note that the Teith is not heaving with Salmon, few rivers are, however there is always something to fish for at Cambusmore, and as Mr. Peter Yates alluded to below, be versatile. If it’s low water and bright, get the trout rod out and fish for the superb Brown Trout sipping away on hatches, and why not try for the Sea Trout in the evening instead of slogging away all day just because you have a syndicate rod. Pack all of your fly tackle for a day on Cambusmore is the best advice however, don’t dismiss the wonderful possibility of a mighty Teith Springer. Day tickets have a limited availability, however sometimes you will be able to get a day permit when the conditions are spot on, and then it’s a very exciting prospect to be casting a line on Cambusmore. The season rods are equally as exciting as you only ever fish the same water either fortnightly or monthly.

The Cambusmore beats are in the middle stretches of the River Teith, marching upstream with Claish Farm on the South bank and Callander Woods Campsite, formerly Gart, on the North bank, and Lanrick Estate downstream on both banks. This magnificent estate fishery includes the confluence of the Keltie Burn and runs roughly parallel with the A84, the main East/West road from Stirling to Lochearnhead.

The Upper reaches of the Cambusmore Estate fishing is marked by the top pool being the Rabbit Burrow on Beat 1, and the lowest pool on the estate is the Gean Tree which is shared opposite with Lanrick Estate on Beat 3. The lower half of Beat 2 is also shared with Lanrick on the far bank.

Come to the river with realistic expectations, not judging your day on what you catch is the advice given, however, the Teith has a reputation as a big fish river, and even the river manager has had four fish over 30lb to his own rod. To really whet your whistle, in 1985 a 44.5lb was hooked and landed on Cambusmore. So yes, don’t expect to catch a lot, but there is always a chance of something grabbing on. Fly fishing is preferred on Cambusmore by the anglers, and only a few will spin in very high water. In good conditions most fish are caught under the surface and not on the surface so it pays to have sinking lines in your tackle bag, and a must are sink tips and heavy tubes in Spring. Try different things like a muddler, bomber and high sticking in the Summer months. Wading is required, so the number of Sea Trout pools are limited, and really if the water is low in May/June then the Sea Trout will hold, in high water they race through. An upstream dry during a hatch is great sport for Trout if you feel like a change for a few hours. Grilse runs are not prolific, but they can be good sport to have, however the Spring fishing has always been the main draw for the Teith. Autumn runs are a complete mystery year upon year without any trend meaning that they could be great, or flat. It is worth finding out.

There are huts located on each beat. Seats, rod rests, well maintained paths, styles etc. are all of excellent quality. Callander has many accommodation options. Doune and Callander offer shops and cafes, and excellent bakeries for a bite to eat. There are places to park up and down the river on each beat and the huts are all accessible by vehicle. The roads and tracks are manageable by 4x4s and most cars. The North bank is accessed via a key coded gate off the A84.